The roots of Sullivan-King Mortuary began in 1923, when a storefront funeral home opened on South Main Street. Over the years, William W. “Bill” King and Sam O. Sullivan, Sr. acquired ownership and renamed the company in 1949. Twenty years later, both King and Sullivan died within three weeks of each other. At the time, Bill King’s son David C. King was a 20-year-old training to become a US Army helicopter gunship pilot and would later become a Vietnam combat veteran. Dedicated employee Jack Gilliland became manager and major shareholder, leading the firm until his retirement. In 1997, David and long-time employee Bolt McClain bought Sullivan-King Mortuary. With a team of loyal employees, Sullivan-King Mortuary has continued the tradition of caring and compassion for grieving families. In 2013, Sullivan-King Mortuary received the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce Pillar of Anderson Award, recognizing the company for community commitment and civic involvement.

The facility at 3205 North Highway 81 was designed and built to reflect timeless architecture and detail. Furnished throughout with beautiful antiques and colorful details, the décor suggests the feel of a lovely, inviting home. In 2008, the daughter of David and Sheila King, Taylor, married Matt Young in the W.W. King Chapel, and the reception was held in the mortuary, with over 1,000 guests in attendance. Even that number has been exceeded by the size of some of the funeral visitations handled by the mortuary.Abundant parking, ease of access and an on-site crematory complete the thoughtful details of this trusted Southern funeral home.

Pre-need funeral planning and family aftercare are among the many services provided. “As a 90-year-old, family owned and managed business, passion, respect, knowledge and experience are evident with each family served,” Bolt said. Each funeral service is different, a unique memorial for the family to remember.

Most recently, an association with Roberts Cemetery has been established to create a community cemetery on S.C. 187 near the shores of Lake Hartwell. The expansion of this historic cemetery, founded in 1789, includes additional grave spaces and plans to construct a 336-crypt mausoleum and lovely outdoor pavilion.The founder of Roberts Presbyterian Church, Rev. John Simpson; Anna Anderson Hunter, daughter of Gen. Robert Anderson, namesake of Anderson County and the City of Anderson; and numerous war veterans are among those interred in this colonial cemetery.